Big Island man sentenced to 25 years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright sentenced 42-year-old Kona resident Uiki Teaupa to 25 years in federal prison Monday for committing two federal drug offenses.

On March 15, 2013, a federal jury found Teaupa guilty of a drug conspiracy offense and a distribution offense, both of which involved more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

United States Attorney Florence Nakakuni said that, according to information produced in court, Teaupa made at least eight trips to the mainland between 2009 and 2012, during which he obtained more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine. Teaupa smuggled the methamphetamine to the Big Island of Hawaii, where another individual distributed it.

In pronouncing sentence, Judge Seabright commented that Teaupa had a "troubling criminal history" that created "a disturbing picture." Judge Seabright also noted that the Defendant made a "mockery of the judicial system" when he lied during his trial testimony and at a suppression hearing.

The indictment of Teaupa was the result of a two-year joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hawaii County Police